ARMY bomb disposal expert was put on red alert on Tuesday after a hand grenade - believed to be live - was found in a box of oddments at a Leyland auctioneers.

The alarm was raised after the explosive was found at the Warren and Wignall auction rooms in Earnshaw Bridge at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Members of the bomb squad examined the grenade, which was found not to be live.

Salesman Tony Breach sounded the alert after a customer spotted the grenade in a box of assorted goods. About 50 people were evacuated out of the building.

Peter Warren, joint owner of the auction rooms, said: "Nobody panicked." He added: "A few years ago we found another."

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